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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
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http://www.archive.org/details/reportsofoperatiOOgeor 


REPORTS 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE  MILITIA, 


FROM  OCTOBER  13, 1864,  TO  FEBRUARY  11,  1866, 


MAJ.-GENERALS  (1.  AV.  SMITH  AND  WAYNE, 


rocrniER  with 


MEMORANDA  BY  flEN.  SMITH, 


niPRIIlEl^T  OF  THE  SflTE  Mllil'illi  (IllliMIZA'fli. 


MACON,   G  A  . 

POCGBTOV,    NESBIT,    BARNES   ■!    VOORB, 

*^tate  Printers. 


r-^-  .>  w-v^-.^^-"*  -      ♦       **\ 


r'    '   -i-f^    \ 


3 


THE  FLOWERS  COLLECTION  T^. .  'P 


STATE  OF  GEORGIA,  l 

AlUUTANT    &    ISHV.    GkXS.    OFVICK.    - 

^FtKutn,  Fohrnary  *2S.  I'^t*;").       ) 
To  His  Exckli-kncv,  .iosKPH  E.  J>rown, 

Governor  of  (xeoi'ij^ia : 
Vou/'  E.rcvllency : — In  coin])li;UH'G  with  the  Rosohiti'on  of 
the  House  of  TiepresentativctJ,  of  the  IStli  iupt..  received  this 
niorntin>-,  1  have  the  l)onor  to  trarisniit  herewith,  th(?  Reports  of 
Major  Generals  Smith  and  Wayne  of  the  operations  of  the 
Militia  in  the  lield  since  18th  of  Outobcr  last:  nnd  also,  the 
Resolution  of  tlie  ITout^e  callin«^  for  these  pii})e)s. 
\^ery  Respectfully, 

Your  ol)'t  serv't, 

HENRY  C.  AVAYNE, 

Adj't.  and  Lisp.  Gen, 


lIEADQUARTEKy  1st  DIVS.  GA.  MILITIA.  I 

DKCEMiua:  (.i'.'ii   18<)4.       \ 

Lt.    (rENL.    W.    J,     HaUOEE, 

CoTninundin<i;   Department : 
iieneral:  On  the  12th  of  October  last  I  received   at  Macon,  a 
telegram  from  General  Iloud  directing  me  to  MssemhU^  as  r;ii)idly 
as  possible,  all  our  avaihible  forces  in  that  vicinity,  ,'iiid  make  a 
d(imonstration  on  Atlanta,  so  soon   as  the  necessnry    transporta 
tion  could  he  proeuR'd.     Under   this    M-der  I,   in    a   short   time, 
had  at  Loveioy's  Stati(»n  a  force  nniril'ciing  nljout,  "j,8<'t)  etlecfive 
musket*,  three  l)atteries  of  (yonfedeiMie  Artillei'v.    and    iv.nween 
two  and  three  hundred  local  reserve   cavalry.     The  whoic  force 
was  under  my  command,   much   tiie   larger    portion   of  Infantry 
l)elonging  to    tlu)  First  Division    of  (leorgia   Militia.     Finding 
this  force  inadequate   to  make   a  direct   assaualt   u]  on    Arhmta, 
garrisoned  as  it  then  was,  General  Hood  suggested  that  I  shoidd, 
if  practicable,  cross  the  Chattahoochee   and  detitroy  the  line  of 
Ivailroad  between  that  river  and  the  Etowah.     For  various  I'cn- 
sons,  which  were  submitted  to  Generals    P>eaure.gard  and  Hood, 
(and  by  them  aj^proved,)  it   was  deemed  neither  practicable  or 
expedient  to  make  a  direct  ^attack  nj^ODx  Atlanta,   or  upon  the 
railroad  line  us  suggested  ;  so  niy  command  continued  in  obser- 
vation near  Atlanta,  j^reventing  the  enemy  from  foruaiug  and 
keeping  them  within  their  line  of  works,   supporting   Ihigadier 
(•General  Iverson  who  had,  just  in  advance  of  us,  two  brigades  of 
cavalry.     On  ihe  night  of  the  12th  of  November,  Major  General 
Wheeler  of  the  qavalry,  reached  my  lieadquurtev:*  anil  soon  after 


the  advance  of  his  forces  from  Alabama  began  to  arrive.  On 
the  15th  of  November,  the  enemy  moved  out  from  Atlanta  and 
advanced  upon  us  with  his  whole  force,  viz  :  the  15th,  17th  and 
•JOth  Corps,  with  Artillery  and  Cavalry,  which  was  soon  after 
joined  by  the  14th.  Our  cavalry  were  driven  that  afternoon 
from  Jonesboro  to  Lovejoy's  and  at  dark  I  moved  my  force  back 
to  Griffin,  at  which  place  we  had  fortificatiens  and  I  felt  we 
could  there  check  the  enemy  should  he  advance  directly  upon  us. 
In  the  afternoon  of  the  16th  it  was  ascertained  the  great  mass 
of  the  enemy-s  forces  had  moved  through  McDonough  on  the 
'direct  road  from  Atlanta  to  Macon,  at  which  latter  place  there 
was  at  that  time  no  garrison.  At  dark  on  the  same  day  I  left 
Griffin  and  marched  my  command  to  Forsyth,  a  distance  of 
thirtj-five  miles  in  twenty-four  hours.  Learning  that  the  enemy 
were  crossing  to  the  east  bank  of  the  Ocmulgee  River,  I  moved 
the  command  to  Macon,  and  about  that  time  received  orders 
from  General  Beauregard  to  report  by  letter  to  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Taylor.     A  copy  of  that  letter  is  herewith  transmitted. 

All  of  my  command  except  the  Georgia  Militia,  and  two  Reg- 
iments of  State  Line  Troops  (which  reported  to  me  just  before 
leaving  Lovejoy's,)  were  at  this  time  turned  over  to  Major  Gen- 
eral Cobb.  The  defence  of  a  portion  of  the  lines  around  Macon,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Ocmulgee,  was  assigned  to  the  force  still 
left  in  my  command.  Before  the  troops  were  fairly  in  position, 
orders  were  received  to  cross  the  river  and  occupy  a  position 
covering  East  Macon,  This  movement  occupied  the  whole  night. 
Soon  after  daylight  next  morning  my  five  Brigades  were  in  the 
respective  positions  assigned  them,  no  two  being  in  the  same 
part  of  the  field. 

During  the  morning  of  Monday  the  21st,  the  First  Brigade, 
under  your  own  personal  instructions,  given  direct  to  the  Colo- 
nel Commanding,  was  sent  along  the  line  of  the  Central  Rail 
Road,  with  orders  to  move  as  rapidly  as  possible,  either  by  rail- 
road or  otherwise  to  the  city  of  Augusta.  In  the  afternoon  of 
tlie  same  day,  Anderson's  Battery  of  Artillery  was  assigned  to 
the  Militia,  and  you  directed  me  to  move  as  soon  as  possible 
with  this  battery,  the  2d,  3d  and  4th  Brigades  of  Militia,  and 
tlio  two  regiments  of  the  State  Line  to  Augusta.  They  moved 
Tuesday  morning  in  the  direction  of  Griswoldville,  with  orders 
to  l^alt  there  aSd^aWg^it  further  instructions  from  me. 

You  also  informedM'e  that  you  had  ordered  Major  Cook  with 
the  Athens  and  Augu&ta  Battalions  to  proceed  to  Augusta,  and 
directed  me  to  take  them  in  my  command  if  I  came  up  with 
them  on  the  route.  Arrangements  for  transportation,  of  ammu- 
nition, and  supplies  detained  me  for  a  few  hours  in  Macon, 
which  place  you  had  left  on  the  evening  previous.  Lieuteoant 
General  Taylor  arrived  there  on  the  morning  of  the  22d.  In- 
formation having  been  received  showing  very  clearly  that  a 
much  larger  force  of  the  eiiemy  .wae  near  the  city  th^n   w%8 


supposed  when  you  ^ave  the  orders  for  my  troops  to  move,  he 
authorized  me  to  direct  them  to  return.  Mj  order  reached  them 
on  the  eve  of  an  engagement  with  what  was  supposed  to  be  a 
small  force  of  the  enemy. 

Notwithstanding  my  order  to  avoid  an  engagement  at  that 
place  and  time  a  collision  occurred,  we  being  the  attacking 
party,  and  though  the  officers  and  men  behaved  with  great  gal- 
lantry, they  failed  to  carry  the  works  of  the  enemy,  but  held 
a  position  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  their  line  until 
after  dark,  when  they  were  withdrawn  to  Macon  by   my   order. 

The  First  Brigade  of  Militia  M-as  not  engaged,  having  passed 
that  point  in  the  execution  of  orders  given  by  yourself.  Major 
Cook  commanding  the  Athens  and  Augusta  Battalions,  moving 
under  orders  direct  from  yourself,  was  upon  the  ground,  and  en- 

faged  in  the  action.  Our  loss  was  a  little  over  six  hundred, 
eing  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  efiective  muskets  -we  had  in 
the  engagement.  Several  of  the  best  field  officers  of  the  com- 
mand were  killed  and  wounded. 

It  is  evident  now  that  our  men  were  opposed  by  the  largej* 
portion  of  one  corps  of  the  enemy,  while  another  was  marching 
trom  Clinton  in  their  rear,  and  I  consider  the  troops  were  very 
fortunate  in  being  withdrawn  without  disaster. 

Lieutenant  (leneral  Taylor  having  become  satisfied  that  the 
enemy  was  leaving  the  vicinity  of  Macon,  directed  me  to  move 
my  command  on  Friday  morning  by  rail  to  Albany,  thence 
march  to  Thomas ville,  thence  by  rail  to  Savannah. 

We  arrived  in  Thomasville  by  noon  Monday,  having  marched 
from  Albany,  a  distance  between  fifty-five  and  sixty  miles  in 
fifty-four  hours.  At  Thomasville,  instead  of  finding  five  traint;, 
the  number  I  had  requested  to  be  sent,  there  were  but  two,  and 
these  could  not  be  started  until  after  dark,  and  did  not  arrive 
here  until  two  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  occupying  twice  the 
time  necessary  between  Thomasville  and  Savannah,  and  leaving 
the  2d,  3d,  and  4th  brigades  at  the  former  place.  Upon  arriving 
here,  almost  broken  down  by  fatigue  and  want  of  rest,  with  oflr 
eers  and  men  similarly  situated,!  received,  before  leaving  the 
cars,  a  peremptory  order  from  yourself,  requiring  me  to  take  the 
Militia  of  Georgia  beyond  the  limits  of  tho  State,  which  was  in 
direct  violation  of  the  Statute  organizing  and  calling  them  into 
service.  Considering  the  jaded  condition  of  both  officers  and 
men,  I  determined  not  to  move  the  Militia  or  the  State  Line 
beyond  the  limits  of  Georgia  until  satisfied  in  my  own  mind 
that  absolute  necessity  demanded  it. 

In  a  personal  inter^•iew  with  yourself,  you  informed  me  that 
the  enemy  had  moved  out  from  Broad  Tliver,  were  encamped 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  Savannah  and  Charleston  Eailroad, 
threatening  Grahamville  and  Coosawhatchee,  and  unless  vigor- 
ously opposed  would  undoubtedly  break  the  road  at  one  or  both 
of  these  points,  soon  after  daylight,  and  that  the  only  force  you 


'6 

had  in  your  whole  command  which  could  by  any  possibility  be 
brought  upon  the  ground  in  time,  was  two  regular  Confederate 
Regiments  from  (Jharleston,  and  you  believed  these  would  be 
there  too  late,  and  that  if  I  could  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until 
2  o'clock,  P.  M.  and  prevent  their  cutting  the  road  before  that 
time,  several  thousand  reinforcements  from  ISTorth  and  South 
Carolina,  intended  for  Savannah  would  arrive.  In  this  inter- 
view I  showed  you  my  qualined  authority  from  the  Governor  to 
witlidraw  the  Georgia  State  forces  under  my  command  from 
Confederate  service  in  case  they  were  ordered  beyond  the  limits 
of  tile  Stata  After  a  full  conference  with  yourself,  I  was  per- 
fectly satisfied  that  for  the  purposes  intended  it  was  right  and 
proper  tlie  movement  should  be  made,  and  I  gave  orders  accord- 
ingly. 

Notwithstanding  some  objections  made  by  a  portion  of  officers 
and  men  the  order  was  willingly  obeyed.  The  leading  brigade 
arrived  at  Grahamvijle  about  8  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  the 
30th  of  Xovember.  You  kindly  tendered  me  the  services  of 
your  Chief  of  Artillery,  Col.  Gonzales,  who  upon  our  arrival  at 
Grahamville,  introduced  me  to  Col.  Colcock,  Commander  of  the 
Military  District,  Maj.  Jenkins,  the  Commander  of  the  immedi- 
ate vicinity,  and  Capt.  DeSaussure,  Col.  Colcock's  Adjutant 
General.  To  these  foui-  gentlemen  particularly,  and  other  offi- 
cers acquainted  with  the  locality,  I  am  indebted  for  the  informa- 
tion upon  which  I  based  the  direction  of  the  whole  operations 
for  tlie  day.  Colonel  Colcock  reported  the  enemy  rapidly  ad- 
vancing, skirmislung  with  some  companies  of  his  cavalry  and  a 
few  pieces  of  artillery.  He  was  just  starting  to  the  front  and  I 
roo^uested  him  to  select  a  position  for  my  leading  Brigade  so 
soon  as  I  could  dispatch  it  to  him.  I  awaited  the  arrival  of  the 
second  train  of  my  own  troops  and  the  Forty-Seventh  Georgia 
which  was  momentarily  expected  from  Charleston.  Having 
"•Ivcn  the  necessary  orders  to  these  forces,  I  joined  Co].  Colcock 
•I  few  minutes  after  10  o'clock,  some  four  miles  from  the  Graham- 
ville depot,  and  about  one-half  mile  from  the  position  we  finally 
assumed.  Col.  C.  informed  me  tJie  enemy  had  already  occilpied 
the  position  selected  by  him  as  the  best  for  defence,  before  my 
troops  arrived.  This  made  it  necessary  in  my  judgment,  that  the 
leadino:;  brigade  should  be  counter-marched  at  once  and  placed  in 
position  on  a  line  with  our  main  battery.  The  troops  in  rear  were 
hurried  up  and  placed  upon  the  same  line  to  the  right  and  left 
of  the  road.  The  enemy  in  the  meanwhile  steadily  advanced 
along  the  main  road  upon  our  position. 

After  a  proper  disposition  of  our  forces  had  been  made  and  a 
skirmish  line  ordered  forward,  Colonel  Colcock,  the  Commander 
of  the  District,  and  next  oflicer  in  command  upon  the  field  to 
tnyself,  was  assigned  to  the  immediate  executive  command  ef 
the  main  line  ;  Colonel  Gonzales  was  ])laced  in  charge  of  the 
Artillery,  and  Major  Jenkins  of  &U  the  Cavalry,    Captain  De« 


Saussure  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  whole  coun- 
try remained  near  me.  The  Forty-Seventh  Georgia  had  not 
yet  reached  the  field.  Within  five  or  ten  minutes  after  these 
dispositions  had  been  made,  the  battle  begun  by  an  advance 
piece  of  our  artillery  firing  upon  the  enemy.  Their  line  of  bat- 
tle was  soon  formed,  and  from  that  time  until  near  dark  thev 
made  continuous  efforts  to  carry  our  position.  We  had  actuall^ 
engaged  five  pieces  of  artillery,  and  it  is  due  to  the  South  Caro- 
lina Artillerists  that  I  should  say  that  I  have  never  seen  pieces 
more  skilfully  employed  and  gallantly  served  upon  a  difficult 
field  of  battle.  In  an  hour  the  enemy  had  so  extended  and  de- 
veloped their  attack  that  it  decame  absolutely  necessary  for  me 
to  place  in  the  front  line  of  battle  my  last  troops,  the  Forty- 
SeVenth  Georgia  Regiment,  making  in  all  about  fourteen  hundred 
eft'ective  muskets  on  the  field,  and  all  engaged.  From  time  to 
time  alterations  had  to  be  made  in  our  lines  by  changint^  the 
positions  of  regiments  and  companies,  extending  intervals  6cc. 
to  prevent  being  fianked,  and  while  we  could  not,  from  the  dense 
wood,  accurately  estimate  the  number  of  the  enemy,  it  was  verv 
clear  their  force  largely  exceeded  ours,  and  I  awaited  with  some 
anxiety,  the  arrival  of  the  Thirty-Second  Georgia,  and  the  forces 
expected  from  North  and  South  Carolina.  Too  nmch  credit 
cannot  be  given  to  Colonel  Colcock,  Colonel  Gonzales,  Major 
Jenkins,  and  Capt  DeSaussure,  to  all  the  officers  of  my  own 
staff — to  Colonel  Willis,  commanding  First  Brigade  of  Georgia 
Militia;  Colonel  Wilson,  Commanding  State" Line  Brigade: 
Major  Cook,  Commanding  the  Athens  and  Augusta  Battalions 
of  Reserves ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Edwards,  Commanding  the 
Forty-Seventh  Georgia  Confederate  Regiment,  and  to  all  the 
officers  and  men  of  every  arm  engaged  upon  that  field.  In  short, 
I  have  never  seen  or  known  of  a  battle-field  upon  which  there 
was  so  little  confusion,  and  where  every  order  was  so  cheerfully  and 
promptly  obeyed,  and  where  a  small  number  of  men  for  so'lon^r 
a  time  successfully  resisted  the  determined  and  oft  repeated  el- 
forts  of  largely  superior  attacking  forces.  The  flight  of  the  en- 
emy during  the  night,  and  the  number  of  their  dead  left  upon 
the  field,  is  evidence  of  the  nature  of  the  attack  as  well  as  the 
defence. 

About  half-past-four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Brigadier  General  Robert- 
son arrived  with  a  portion  of  the  Thirty  Second  Georgia  from 
Charleston,  a  Battery  of  Artillery,  and  a  Company  of  Cavalry. 
These  constituted  an  efiective  reserve,  but  came  up  too  late  to 
bo  used  in  the  action.  During  the  night  the  enemy  retired  rap- 
idly in  the  direction  of  their  (run  Boats. 

Our  loss  in  every  arm  of  service  was  eight  (S)  men  killed  and 
forty-two  (42)  wounded.  The  enemy  left  over  two  hundred  of 
their  dead  upon  tlie  field,  and  their  whole  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  is  believed  to  be  upwards  of  one  thousand. 

At  midnight  Brigadier  General  Chesnut  arrived  at  Graham* 


ville  Station  with  about  three  hundred  and  lifty  eflective  mus- 
kets of  South  Carolina  Reserves,  and  a  little  before  daylight 
upon  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  December,  Brigadier  General 
Baker  came  up  with  eight  hundred  and  sixty  of  his  Brigade 
from  North  Carolina,  the  remainder  of  his  command,  about 
eleven  hundred  reached  Coosawhatchie  at  nine  o'clock.  Lieut. 
Grneral  Hardee  arrived  at  Grahamville  Station  between  eight 
and  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  December. 

The  enemy  having  been  beaten  back  on  the  30th  of  Novem- 
ber, and  the  Confederate  forces  having  now  arrived,  there  was 
in  my  judgment,  no  longer  any  necessity  for  retaining  the  State 
Troops  of  Georgia  beyond  their  legal  jurisdiction.  1  therefore 
asked  and  obtained  permission  to  bring  these  exhausted  troops 
back  to  their  own  State.  They  arrived  here  by  Lieutenant 
General  Plardee's  order,  about  ten  o'clock  that  nig]it. 

P'or  full  particulars  of  the  engagement  near  Grahamville,  S. 
C,  I  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  subordinate  commanders  which 
will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  furnished. 

Very  respectfully^,  your  ob't  serv't, 
(Signed)'  •  '  G.  W.  SMITH, 

Major  General. 


j  Copy.  I  Macon,  November,  19, 1864. 

General: — General  Beauregard  has  informed  me  by  tele- 
o-raph,  that  you  will  take  immediate  command  of  the  forces  in 
(reoroia,  and  directed  me  to  report  to  you  by  letter.  My  own 
proper  command  consists  of  one  division  of  Militia — four  brig- 
ades of  Infantry,  numbering  in  all,  nineteen  hundred  effective 
muskets  when  we  left  Lovejoys.  I  have  not  yet  received  the 
return  since  their  arrival  here  yesterday  afternoon.  Besides  the 
xMilitia  there  was  temporarily  assigned  to  me  by  Gen.  Cobb, 
one  rec^iment  and  two  battallions  of  Reserve  Infantry,  number- 
int>-  about  i^ine  hundred;  some  three  hundred  Reserve  Local  Caval- 
ry^and  one  battalion  of  Confederate  Artillery.  The  forces  other 
than  ]\[ilitia  proper  will,  I  take  for  granted,  be  now  placed  un- 
der some  other  Commander.  The  enemy  moved  their  strongest 
column  through  McDonough,  and  when  I  was  at  Griffin,  they 
had  passed  through  McDonough,  and  were  nearer  Macon  than 
J  was.  AYhen  I  roachcd  Forsyth,  having  made  50  miles  in  48 
hours,  they  were  reported  crossing  the  Ocmulgee,  and  could,  by 
a  rapid  march,  reach  Macon  by  the  left  bank  of  the  Ocmulgee, 
M-itlumt  opposition.  Gen.  Cobb  ordered  the  cars  to  Forsyth  for 
the  Infantrv,  and  directed  me  to  move  the  whole  command  to 
this  place  without  delay.  Gen.  Wheeler  was  the  senior  offi- 
cer on  this  theatre  of  operations,  and  without  giving  direct  or- 
ders to  the  Infantry  and  Artillery  strongly  advised,  as  soon  as 
he  developed  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  that  I  should  move  to 


Macon  at  once.  I  i'ully  concurred  in  opinion  with  both  Gens. 
Wheeler  and  Cobb.  Gen.  Wheeler  is  confident  that  Sherman 
has  with  him  in  this  movement,  at  least  tliirty-five  thousand 
effective  men,  and  informs  me  that  the  14th  army  corps  is  mov- 
ing in  addition  to  join  Sherman.  Since  I  commenced  this  let- 
ter Lt.  Gen.  Hardee  has  come  in.  I  will  sliow  him  this  letter 
before  mailing  to  your  address.     I  remain.  General, 

Very  Resp'tfully  and  trulv  yours, 
(Signed)  G.  W:  SMITH, 

Maj.  Gen'l  let  Div.  Geo.  Militia. 
Lt.  Gen'l  Kicuabd  Taylor, 

Com'dg,  &c.,  tfcc,  Sclma,  Ala. 

[Duplicate  sent  to  Montgomery. 

P.  S.  General  Hardee  has  just  shown  me  his  orders  from 
Richmond  dated  17th  inst.,  stating  that  he  commands  all 
Georgia  soutli  of  the  Chattahoochee,  and  directing  him  to 
gather  convalescents,  local  troops,  etc.,  to  garrison  this  place. 

G.  W.  S. 

In  the  above  I  omitted  the  two  regiments  of  State  Line  troops — 
they  joined  us  the  day  before  we  left  Lovejoys — the  two  togeth- 
er numbering  about  400  muskets.  G.  W.  S. 


[coPY.J  HEADQUARTERS  Sd  BRIGADE  [ 

East  Macon,  Nov'r.  24,  1864.      [ 
Brig.  Gen'l.  Phillips, 

Commd'g  1st  Div.  G.  M  : 
General : — Below  please  find  a  report  of  the  casualties  of  the 
3d  Brigade,  w^kich  would  have  been  forwarded  sooner,  had    1 
not  been  too  unwell  since  my  return  to  camp,  to  do  any  busi- 
ness until  this  morning. 

My  brigade  went  into  the  action  on  the  22d  inst.,  I  suppose 
about  2  o  clock,  as  you  are  aware,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
command.  After  driving  the  enemy  through  the  field,  across 
the  ravine  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  about  one  hundred  yards 
beyond  the  ravine,  I  halted  them,  and  although  our  ammunition 
was  nearly  exhausted,  I  held  that  position  tiring  slowly  until 
dark.  The  enemy  having  ceased  tiring,  and  having  been  in- 
formed that  our  forces  w'ere  being  withdrawn  on  the  right,  I 
withdrew  my  brigade  slowly,  and  In  good  order,  and  reported 
to  you  at  Griswoldville.  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  say,  that  the 
men  and  officers  of  my  command,  although  they  suffered  severe- 
ly as  the  list  of  casualties  will  show,  acted  well. 
*  Respectfully  submitted, 

[SignedJ  C.  D.  ANDERSON, 

Brig.  Gen'l.  3d.  Div. 


10 

f-coPT  1  HEADQUARTERS  Ci.  S.  LINE, ) 

November  2Wh,  1864.      f 
Brg.  Gen.  Phillips,  Commanding  Division: 

General :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  of  my  com- 
mand took  in  the  engagement  with  the  enemy  on  the  22d  No- 
vember. 

Having  been  ordered  to  lead  the  advance  on  the  mardh  on 
the  22d,  upon  arriving  within  one  mile  of  Griswoldville,  I  was 
informed  by  Major  Cook,  of  the  Twenty-Third  Battalion  that 
the  enemy  had  reoccupied  the  place.  I  immediately  sent  for- 
ward a  line  of  skirmishers  to  feel  the  position  of  the  enemy  and 
drive  their  pickets,  this  line  advanced  through  the  village  and 
halted  at  enemy's  picket  line,  at  this  point  my  line  of  battle 
joined  the  battalion  of  Major  Cook  and  Major  Jackson,  who 
formed  on  my  right,  we  advanced  again  our  skirmishers,  and 
drove  in  the  enemy's  line  of  pickets  and  took  position  on  the 
edge  of  the  old  field  recently  occupied  by  the  enemy.  We  soon 
discovered  the  enemy  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  in  the  opposite 
woods  behind  temporary  breastworks.  •  I  had  been  in  line  but  a 
few  moments  before  ordered  to  advance  and  attack  the  enemy  in 
front.  Major  Cook  and  Major  Jackson  on  the  right,  my  left  being 
supported  by  General  Anderson's  Militia  Brigade  who  were  to 
make  a  simultaneous  attack  on  the  enemy's  right.  By  some  mis- 
understanding or  mistake  the  order  to  advance  did  not  reach 
Major  Cook  till  my  command  had  been  some  time  in  motion. 
We  charged  down'  through  the  old  held  alone,  but  were  soon 
supported  handsomely  by  Majors  Cook  and  Jackson  on  my  right, 
both  regiments  of  the  State  Line  keeping  a  tine  line  under  a 
most  galling  and  destructive  hre  trom  the  entire  line.  The 
command  advanced  to  the  branch  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works, 
halted  and  delivered  a  heavy  and  destructive  lire  on  the  enemy's 
front  and  immediately  advanced  across  the  branch  under  the 
slope' of  the  next  hill,  where  they  again  halted,  tiring  on  the_  en- 
emy's front,  causing  them  to  abandon  the  houses  and  take  refuge 
behind  their  works.-  While  in  this  position,  the  second  line 
composed  of  the  Militia  reached  the  branch,  at  which  point  they, 
supposing  our  men  to  be  the  enemy,  fired  into  my  ranks  produ- 
cino-  a  temporary  confusion.  Just  at  this  moment  the  command 
of  &eneral  Anderson,  (Militia)  having  been  ordered  to  move  by 
the  left  flank,  the  order  was  also  obeyed  by  one  of  ray  regiments, 
the  second,  .to  avoid  this  rear  tire,  the  First  Regiment  still 
touching  as  ordered  to  the  right  upon  Majors  Cook  and  Jackson, 
thus  causing  a  small  sap  in  my  centre  that  was  immediately 
filled  by  the  Militia  who  were  then  in  the  branch. 

The  Second  Regiment  State  Line  in  their  movement  towards 
the  left,  encountered  the  enemy  on  the  right  flank,  and  poured  a 
well  directed  fire  into  their  ranks,  causing  them  to  exhibit  some 
confusion,  while  the  right  wing  were  actively  engaged  on  the 
right,  the  firing  was  incessant,  both  my  regiments  were  well 


'  11 

supported  by  the  Militia  who  moved  up  to  my  line,  and  became 
mingled  with  my  men,  all  forming  the  same  line,  that  it  was 
difficult  to  distinguish  them,  thus  matters  continued  till  night 
and  ammunition  being  well  nigh  exhausted  the  command  re- 
tired in  good  order.  Too  much  commendation  cannot  be  be- 
stowed upon  the  men  of  both  regiments  of  the  State  Line  for 
the  handsome  manner  in  which  they  bore  themselves  in  the 
charge  through  the  field  for  a  distance  of  five  hundred  yards,  un- 
der a  most  destructive  fire  from  the  enemy,  keeping  an  unbroken 
front  amidst  a  hailstorm  of  of  bullets,  as  well  as  for  their  deter- 
mined courage  in  maintaining  their  position  during  the  whole 
engagement.  Accompanying  herewith  I  send  a  list  of  casual- 
ties. Among  them  is  some  of  m}'  best  men  and  officers.  Con- 
sidering the  number  engaged  my  loss  is  heavy. 
I  am,  General,  your  most  ob't  serv't, 
(Signed)  '  B.  D.  EVANS, 

Lieut.  Colonel  Com'ns;  Ga.  St.  Line. 


[copy.]  headquarters  1st  DIV.  G.  M.  ) 

4;>    O'COCK,    NOVEMBEK    22l»,  1864.         ( 

Brig.  Gkn'l.  Phillips  : 

I  am  directed  by  the  Major  General  to  instruct  you  to  with- 
draw your  troops  immediately  to  some  convenient  camp  this 
side  of  the  Cross  Keys,  and  take  a  suitable  position  for  the  night, 
unless  you  receive  further  orders,  ^'ou  Avill  leave  your  camp 
this  side  of  the  Cross  Jveys  at  daylight  to-morrow  morning  and 
come  back  to  the  fortifications.  Your  note  of  two  o'clock  has 
been  received,  keep  the  courier  who  brings  this  until  you  march, 
and  notify  us  accordingly.  When  you  leave  to-morrow  morning, 
send  a  courier  stating  the  time  you  begin  your  march  for  the 
fortifications.  Put  your  scouts  well  out  to-night  upon  all  roads 
leading  from  Clinton,  or  if  the  enemy  mass  upon  you  from  any 
direction  fall  back  to  the  lines  of  fortifications  upon  their  ap- 
proach and  immediately  report  the  facts.  There  is  a  good 
branch  just  this  side  of  Walnut  Creek.  Our  cavalry  were  near 
Clinton  this  morning,  but  are  being  pushed  back  l>y  the  enemy. 
By  order,  Arc, 
(Signed)  T.  H.  Jr.,  A.  A.  G. 

I  LATER.] 

mm,.  (iK.N.  Phillips  : 

The  Superintendent  of  the  Central  Railroad  will  have  a  train 
by  9^-  o'clock  at  the  break  about  two-and-a-half  miles  this  side 
of  Griswoldville.  Dr.  Rains  will  accompany  the  train  and  will 
do  all  in  his  power  to  relieve  your  wounded  men.  You  will 
please  have  vour  wounded  removed  to  this  point  v,'ith  all  possi- 
ble speed,    ^ho  Major  General  takes  this  method  of  tendering 


12^ 

you,  and  the  troops  of  your  command  his  grateful  acknowledge- 
ments for  their  gallant  conduct  in  the  engagement  through 
■which  you  have  passed,  and  is  gratified  at  your  success  in  dri- 
ving before  you  the  enemies  of  your  country.  Had  anything  of 
this  character  been  anticipated,  the  Major  General  and  staff 
would  have  been  with  you  to  have  shared  your  danger  and  your 
honor.  The  reported  advance  of  the  enemy  from  Clinton  makes 
it  necessary  that  you  have  your  command  in  position  in  our 
works  at  a  very  early  hour  to-morrow  morning.  You  will  there- 
for withdraw  them  as  directed  in  a  previous  order,  after  making 
suitable  arrangements  for  _yOTi,r  wounded,  and  giving  sufiicient 
time  for  your  men  to  recover  from  the  fatigue  incident  to  an 
engagement.  The  Major  General  expects  information  here  from 
the  column  advancing  from  Clinton,  and  if  anything  of  a  serious 
nature  occurs  he  will  meet  you  in  person  to  aid  you  in  giving 
proper  directions  to  your  command. 

(Signed)  T.  H.  Je.,  A.  A.  G. 


[copy]  HD.  QUAKTEKS  1st  DIV.  G.  M.  ) 

12:20  P.  M.,  Macon, 

Nov.  22d,  1864.      ) 
Bkig.  Gen.  Phillips  : 

General : — Wheeler  having  retired  to  the  right, 
keep  a  close  look  out  with  your  skirmishers,  and  avoid  a  fight 
with  a  superior  force.  You  can  best  judge  of  the  direction. 
The  wagon  train  will  not  leave  this  evening.  * 

,  By  command  Gen'l  SMITH, 

[Signed]  R.  Toombs,  Ch'f  Staff. 

P.  S. — If  it  be  dangerous  to  get  back,  take  down  the  Marion 
Road. 

Later  :  12:45  P.  M. 
General : — Since  this  note  was  written,  a  courier  has  come 
in  from  Maj.  Cook,  stating  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  upon 
him  at  Griswoldville.  The  wagon  train  is  still  here,  and  it  had 
already  been  determined  not  to  send  it  by  the  route  you  are  on 
before  this  information  came  in.  If  pressed  by  a  superior  force 
fall  back  upon  this  place  without  bringing  on  a  serious  engage- 
ment if  you  can  do  so.  If  not,  fall  back  upon  the  road  indica- 
ted in  Gen.  Toombs'  note.  Anderson  Battery  started  out  this 
morning — has  probably  joined  you.  Let  me  know  as  soon  as 
possible  exactly  what  is  going  on  in  your  front. 

[Signed]  G.  AV.  SMITH,  Maj.  Gen'l. 

If  the  brigades  are  not  concentrated  before  this  reaches  you, 
Capt.  Hawkins  is  instructed  to  show  this  to  each  Brigade  Com- 
mander and  to  Maj.   Cook.    If  Anderson's  battery  has  act    al- 


13 


ready  joined  the  Infantry,  it  will  return  to  tliis  place,  or  join 
the  infantry  as  may  be  best  in  the  opinion  of  the  ranking  offi- 
cer present.  [Signed J  G.  W,  S. 

Capt.  E.  Hawkins, 
A.  D.  C.  to  Maj.  Gen.  Smith. 


Gbiswoldville,  Nov.  22d,  '64.  3:20  P.  M. 

General: — The  whole  division  including  Cook's  battalion,  is 
one  mile  in  advance  of  this  place  on  the  Central  R.  11,  in  line  of 
battle,  with  the  State  Line  troops  thrown  out  in  front  skirmish- 
ing with  the  enemy.  Anderson's  battery  opened  upon  them 
just  as  T  rode  up  to  the  line,  the  enemy's  battery  replying,  (-ren. 
Phillips  does  not  know  what  their  force  is,  and  on  receiving 
your  instructions,  concluded  not  to  advance  farther.  On  the 
movements  of  the  enemy  depends  whether  or  not  he  will  fall 
back  to  this  place,  or  remain  where  he  now  is. 

Very  Eesp'tfnlly,  your  ob't  serv't, 
[Signed  I  E.  HAWKINS,  A.  D.  C. 

F.  S. — I  will  remain  to  see  any  developments  wiiich  may  be 
made  before  I  report  in  person.     | Signed]  E.  11. 


[coi-yj  HI).  Ql'AllTERS  2d  BKIADE,  G.  M.  \ 

December  8,  18G4.      \ 
CoL.  Tnos.  Hardeman,  A.  A.  (i  : 

Colonel  : — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report 
of  the  operations  of  the  four  brigades  under  my  command  on 
the  22d  November  last. 

The  command  loft  East  Macon  at  about  8  A.  M.,  and  arrived 
without  incident  at  12  or  1,  within  about  one  mile  of  Griswold- 
ville,  where  I  found  the  Athens  and  Augusta  battalions  (under 
command  of  Maj.  Cook)  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  1  also  met 
a  number  of  cavalry  at  and  near  this  point,  all  of  whom  inform- 
ed me  that  the  enemy  was  in  Griswoldville,  and  had  been  en- 
gaged with  some  of  our  cavalry.  He  was  represented  to  be 
about  8  or  1"J(>0  strong.  1  formed  a  line  of  battle,  with  Gen. 
Anderson's  Brigade  on  the  right,  the  Athens  and  Augusta  bat- 
talions on  his  immediate  left,  and  J>rig.  Gen'l  ]\rcCoy"s  brigade 
on  the  left  of  the  line.  The  Second  P>rigade,  under  Col.  Mann, 
was  formed  in  the  rear  as  a  reserve.  The  State  J^ine  under  Lt. 
Col.  Evans  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  und  advanced  on  Gris- 
woldville, where  the  enemy  had  just  burnt  some  buildings  and 
retired  before  we  arrived — of  wiiich  facts  I  intbrmed  the  Major 
General  Commanding  at  about  -1  o'doc^k  V.  M. 

Wbilsjt  iij  GriewoldviUe.  Afaj.  Cook  withdrew  the  Athens  and 


14 

Augusta  1)attalions  from  the  line,  informinc;  me  tliat  he  wsa^  or- 
dered by  Lt.  Gen'l  Hardee  to  proceed  to  Auf^-nsta)  and  proceed- 
ed down  the  Central  Rail  lioad.  I  soon  ordered  the  command 
to  move  down  the  C.  E.  R.  until  it  should  clear  the  villaji;e  and 
halt,  to  await  further  orders  from  Maj.  Gen.  Smith.  The  rear 
of  the  column  had  not  cleared  the  vilhig-e,  when  tiring  of  small 
arms  was  heard,  some  half  mile  in  advance  of  onr  column, 
which  was  between  the  advance  and  rear  unards  of  Maj.  Cook 
and  the  enemy.  I  ordered  an  advance  of  the  command,  and  on 
arriving,  I  met  Maj.  Cook  who  pointed  out  ro  me  the  enemy, 
posted  on  the  opposite  eminence  in  line  of  battle,  behind 
some  temporary  entrenchments  and  fortilicatiuns.  Maj.  Cook's 
t^kirmishers  were  then  engaged  with  the  eiiom^-  on  his  left.  I 
disposed  of  the  forces  represented  by  the  acjcompanying  dia- 
gram, vix :  The  Athens  and  Augnsta  battalions  on  our  right, 
(owing  to  the  position  they  then  iield)  making  rather  an  obtuse 
angle,  with  the  State  Line  on  their  left,  and  Gen.  ]\[cCoy's  brig- 
ade on  the  left  of  the  State  Line — Gen.  M's.  left  resting  neai- 
and  south  of  the  Railroad.  Gen.  Anderson's  brigade  was  form- 
ed on  the  north  side  of  the  Railroad,  his  left  resting  parallel 
with  the  Railroad,  and  posted  Capt.  Anderson's  battery  of  four 
guns  at  an  eligible  site  on  the  Railroad  on  the  north  side.  The 
Second  Brigade  under  Col.  Mann  was  drawn  up  in  rear  of  the 
State  Line,  and  Gen.  McCoy's  brigade  in  a  secure  place  to  act 
as  reserves.  In  this  position  an  advance  was  ordered.  Gen. 
Anderson  with  his  brigade  to  attack  the  enemy  on  his  right 
flank,  Maj.  Cook  with  his  to  attack  him  on  his  left  tlank,  whilst 
Capt.  Anderson,  with  his  battery,  the  State  Line  and  Gen.  Mc- 
Coy's commands  attacked  him  in  the  front.  Tlio  State  Line 
and  Gen.  McCoy's  brigade  moved  forward  in  Hue  style  under  a 
heavy  and  galling  lire,  until  they  reached  within  some  iifty 
yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  which  position  they  maintained  du- 
ring the  contest,  and  from  which  position  they  delivered  a  tell- 
ing lire.  Col.  Mann  deeming  that  his  brigade  could  be  of  moie 
service  near  the  lines,  advanced  it  to  near  the  same  position, 
where  it  participated  in  the  general  action.  From  some  mis- 
conception of  orders  when  the  general  advance  was  being  made, 
Gen.  Anderson's  brigade  faced  to  the  right  and  swept  across  the 
Railroad  (saw  a  small  detachment  on  his  extreme  left  that  was 
cut  oft*  by  a  deep  cut  in  the  Railroad)  and  participated  with  the 
State  Line  and  Gen.  McCoy's  brigade  in  the  direct  attack, 
where  they,  both  ofhcers  and  men,  sustained  themselves  with 
decision  and  gallantry.  After  the  action  had  progressed  ibr 
some  hours.  Gen.  Anderson  took  the  detachment  of  his  men 
that  had  been  cut  olf,  went  round  to  the  enemy's  right  ftank, 
when  a  most  spirited  and  desperate  fight  ensued,  lasting  some 
hour  or  more  and  a  half,  but  the  enemy  was  too  firmly  estab- 
lished and  the  General's  force  too  small  to  dislodge  him.  The 
order  to  Ma-jor  Cook  (from  some  cause  of  which  I  mn  l)Ot  aw»re) 


15 

to  turn  the  enetny'8  left,  was  never  carried  out,  yet  his  command 
participated  fully  in  the  action,  deported  themselves  o;allantly, 
and  I  regret  to  say,  suftered  much  from  wounds  and  deaths. 
Captain  Anderson  with  his  battery  did  good  and  valuable  ser- 
vice, soon  silencing  the  enemy's  battery  and  forced  upon  him 
many  telling  shots,  lie  is  a  skilfull,  brave  and  meritorious  offi- 
cer. The  officers  and  men  deported  themselves  well  during  the 
entire  action,  which  lasted  from  o  P.  M.,  until  dark,  held  their 
positions  and  retired  in  good  order  to  Griswoldville,  where  I 
had  intended  to  eneamp  and  bring  olf  those  of  our  wounded  and 
dead  that  had  not  been  removed  from  the  battle-field,  but  on 
my  reaching  Griswoldville  I  received  an  order  from  the  Major 
General  Commanding,  ordering  me  to  fall  back  to  the  trenches 
at  Macon,  where  I  arrived  about  2  o'clock,  A.  M.  I  can  but  be- 
lieve if  the  flank  movement  had  been  carried  out  with  all  the 
Ibrces  assigned  to  that  duty,  that  it  would  have  resulted  in  dis- 
lodging and  probably  routing  the  enemy — notwithstanding  he 
was,  I  am  satisfied  fully  e([ual,  if  not  superior,  to  our  forces. 
Whilst  we  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  many  gallant  officers  and 
men,  yet  we  cannot  but  hope,  that  they  died  not  in  vain.  Ac- 
companying please  find  a  diagram  of  the  field  and  position  of 
the  forces,  and  the  reports  of  all  the  officers  that  I  have  been 
able  to  procure. 

i  am  with  high  regard,  your  ob't  sei  vant, 

(Signed)  ■  P.  J.  PHILLIPS, 

Brig,  Gen.  Commanding  T)iv.  Ga.  Militia. 


riEADQUARTEES  FIEST  DIYISON  G.  j\r.,  i 
Camp  nkar  Auuu.sta,  January  2Gth,  1865.  \ 
Maj.  Gen.  II.  C.    Wavnk,  A.  cV:  I.  G. :  ' 

General — Some  weeks  since,  I  transmitted  for  your  informa- 
tion and  that  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  a  copy  of  my 
report  to  l^ieutenant  General  Hardee,  of  the  operations  of  the 
Afilitia  from  Lovejoy's  Station  to  Savannah,  dated  December 
t;th,  1864:.  I  received  yesterday  the  report  of  (Tcneral  Phillips, 
who  commanded  at  Griswoldville,  and  sub  reports  from  his 
subordinates,  all  of  which  are  sent  herewith,  together  with  copies 
of  orders  sent  to  General  Phillips  during  the  day  from  my  Head- 
quarters, and  request  that  these  papers  mny  be  filed  in  your 
office,  with  the  copy  of  my  report  to  General  llardce,  above 
alluded  to.  The  casualties' in  the  battle  of  Griswf)ldvi]le  m-oiv 
51  killed  and  472  wounded,  and  it  is  believed  the  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  equally  as  great. 

Very  respectfully, 

"^'our  ob't  serv't, 
(Signed,)  G.  W.  SMITH, 

Major  Geueral; 


16 

STATE  OF  GEOEGIA, ) 

Adjutant  a2jd  Inspector  General's  Office,      '- 
Milledgevillc,  February  6th,  186.5      \ 

2o   Ills  Excellency 

JOSEPH  E.  BKOWN, 

Governor  of  Georgia : 

Your  Excellency  :  An  accidental  injury  to  my  right  hand  has 
prevented  a  report  earlier,  of  the  operations  of  the  Militia  under 
my  command  since  the  evacuation  of  Milledgevillc  by  the  State 
Forces  on  the  19th  November,  1864, 

Parting  with  your  Excellency  on  the  evening  of  the  19th  of 
November  at  Gordon,  where  I  had  been  ordered  by  you  at  the 
request  of  General  Cobb,  C.  S.  P.  A.,  dispositions  for  the  night 
were  made  as  well  as  could  could  be  done.  The  command  con- 
sisted of  the  Corps  of  Cadets,  Prudens'  Battery  of  Artillery, 
Talbotts'  Company  of  Cavalry,  Williams'  Company  of  Militia, 
the  Factor}'^  and  Penitentiary  Guards,  and  the  Roberts  Guards, 
(convicts.)  In  all,  nominally,  500  men,  with  460,  aggregate,  ac-^ 
tually  fit  for  effective  service,  and  all  under  the  immediate  di-' 
rection  of  Major  F.  W.  Caj^ers,  Superintendent  of  the  Georgia 
Military  Institute,  whom  I  had  apppointed  Executive  Officer. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  20th,  my  telegraphic  communica- 
tion with  Macon  was  cut  at  Griswoldville  by  the  enemy,  about 
10:30  A.  M.  At  12  M.,  I  learned  that  the  enemy,  in  force,  were 
moving  on  my  right  towards  Milledgevillc.  Further  information 
of  the  enemy's  movement  on  Milledgevillc  reached  me  in  the 
afternoon.  At  8  P.  M.,  having  received  no  communication 
from  Macon  siBce  the  cutting  of  the  wires  in  the  morning,  and 
feeling  in  consequence  that  I  was  thrown  upon  my  own  respon- 
sibility, I  determined,  on  consultation  with  my  principal  officers, 
to  abandon  Gordon,  as  its  occupation  was  of  no  value,  either  for 
the  protection  of  property  (all  trains  and  stores  having  been 
sent  off),  or  as  a  military  position,  and  to  full  back  to  the  Oconee 
Bridge,  as  the  most  important  point  on  the  Central  Eailroad  to 
be  defended.  Telegraphing  for  a  train  from  below,  to  move 
down  to  this  new  position,  one  Was  sent  up  on  Monday,  at  about 
12:30  P.  M.  The  guns  and  baggage  were  immediately  put  on, 
and  at  4  P.  M.,  as  the  men  were  getting  on,  a  report  of  the  ene- 
my in  heavy  force  three  miles  oft',  was  brought  in.  Talbot's 
Cavalry  was  sent  forward  to  hold  them  in  check,  while  the  train 
moved  off',  and  did  so  handsomely,  covering  it  also  from  a  liank 
movement  on  our  right  to  cut  us  off,  and  the  retreat  of  the  Artilti  j 
lery  horses  sent  down  with  their  drivers  by  the  Irvvinton  Turii-I . 
pike.  A  few  scattering  shots  as  the  train  moved  off,  dropping 
harmlessly  around  it,  announced  the  entrance  of  the  advanced 
guard  of  the  enemy's  15th  Corps  into  Gordon.  We  brought  off 
everything  safely,  and  arrived  at  the  Oconee  Bridge  at  0:30 
o'clock,  P.  M, 


17 

At  the  bridge,  I  found  a  guard  ot*  ISO  men,  oonsisting  of  1  ley- 
ward's  Companj  of  South  Car«lina  Cavah-y,  a  section  of  Artil- 
lery (two  pieces)  under  Lieutenant  JIuger,  and  a  Company  of 
the  27th  ]>attalion  Georgia  Reserves,  under  ALajor  Ilartridge, 
C.  S.  F.  A.,  sent  up  two  days  before  by  (xeneral  McLaws,  from 
Savannah. 

Tuesday,  the  22d,  was  spent  in  examining  tlie  ground  and  in 
preparations.  The  orders  from  my  superior^*  were  to  hold  tiie 
bri<3ge  to  the  last  extremity.  The  mo\ement  of  the  enemy -^yas 
not  a  little  raid,  but  his  army  marching  on  Savannah.  The 
bridge  could  be  Hanked  on  the  right  frem  Milledgeville,  l>ullalo 
C>'eek  only  intervening,  and  on  the  left  by  IJall's  Ferry,  eight 
miles  below,  as  well  as  attacked  in  front.  The  long  and  thick 
swamps  on  our  side  of  the  river  prevented  the  use  of  Artillery 
or  Cavalry  at  either  the  bridge  or  Ball's  Ferry.  An  Infantry 
defence  only  could  be  made,  and  rough  tield  works,  to  be  hastily 
thrown  up,  as  there  were  no  ])rcvious  preparations  lor  cover. 
Major  Ilartridge,  on  liis  arrival,  had  judiciously  burned  the 
iMain  bridge  over  the  Futfalo  and  guarded  the  crossing,  and 
placed  a  light  picket  at  Ball's  Ferry,  but  his  force  was  too  small 
to  prevent  any  formidable  resistance.  Three  other  bridges  over 
the  Buftalo  wwrc  destroyed,  the  crossings  guarded,  and  the  picket 
at  the  Ferry  strengthened,  lleinforcements  were  called  ibr  from 
Savannah,  but  General  McLaws  had  none  to  send,  and  the  small 
command,  of  not  quite  seven  hundred  men,  had  twenty  miles,  at 
least,  of  line  to  watoh  and  guard.  IFeld  to  extreme  orders,  witli 
an  overwhelming  force  in  front  and  on  both  ilanks,  these  gallant 
officers  and  men  cheerfully  prepared  to  do  their  duty  and  meet 
their  fate. 

Wednesday,  the  2od,  the  enemy  (a  Brigade  of  ICili^atrick's 
Division  of  Mounted  Infantry,  as  we  were  informed  by  prison- 
ers taken)  appeared  on  our  front  at  the  bridge,  about  10:45  A.  M., 
and  commenced  the  attack,  which  was  handsomely  met  «»ii  tlie 
west  bank  of  the  river  by  the  Cadets,  under  Captaiu  Austin,  and 
l>y  a  detachment  of  the  4th  Ky.  Mounted  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
Thompson,  sent  to  my  assistance  that  morning  by  (leneral 
Wheeler,  and  by  one  gun  of  Fruden's  Jjattery,  mounted  on  :i 
platform  car,  under  tlie  gallant  Fruden  himself  IvCtiring  slowly 
as  they  were  pressed  back  to  the  bridge  by  the?  superior  force  n\' 
the  enemy,  the  detac-hment  of  the  4th  Kentucky  was  \\itluh-:iuii. 
the  Factory  and  Feuitentiary  Guards  and  Williams'  Militia  seni 
in,  and  a  line  formed  on  the  east  bank  of  th»  river,  under  the 
direction  of  ^[ajor  Ca]»prR,  who  had  begn  assigned  t»  special 
command  at  the  bridge.  At  12:304^1.,  it  was  reported  to  me 
i'rom  the  ferry,  that  the  enemy,  in  numbers,  were  on  the  opposite 
side,  had  driven  in  our  pickets,  seized  the  tlat  whi(;h  the  olticei" 
in  charge  there  had  not  destroyed  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
as  he  had  been  ordered  to  do,  and  were  crossing  the  river.  Major 
Hartridgo  was  immediately  sent  down  with  Heyward's  Company 

3 


IS 

of  Soutli  Carolina  Cavnliy,  Talbot's  Cavalry,  tho  Company  of  ■ 
the  '37tli  Battalion,  the  Pioberts'  Guards  and  Huger's  seol^on  of 
Artillery,  to  meet  this  force  and  drire  it  back  over  the  river ,- 
reclaim  the  flat,  and  establish  a  strong  guard  at  the  ferr  j.  This 
dut}^  the  Major  performed  in  a  most  gallant  manner,  marching 
ten  miles,  driving  back  over  the  river  between  two  and  three 
Imndred  of  the  enemy  who  had  crossed — carrying  out  my  orders 
completely.  Leaving  Talbot's  Cavalry  and  the  Roberts'  Guard 
as  an  addditional  guard,  and  picketing  Blackshear's  Ferry,  still 
four  miles  lower  down,  ho  rejoined  me  with  the  remainder  of  his 
troops  at  the  bridge,  at  10:30  P.  M,  The  force  Major  Ilartridgo 
encountered  was  subsequently  reported  to  be  the  advance  of  the 
1 5th  Corps. 

As  the  attack  at  Ball's  Ferry,  if  successful,  necessitated  the 
abandonment  of  the  bridge,  by  placing  the  enemy  in  our  rear, 
the  forces  at  the   bridge  being  as  it  were   in  a  pocket,  I  had 
directed  the  baggage  to  be  packed,  the  telegraph  to  be  discon-  j 
nocted,  and  prepared  for  an  orderly  retreat,  should  we  be  com-  ' 
polled  to  abandon  the  ground.     Taking  post  at  the  head  of  the 
trestle,  I  awaited  the  result  of  Ilartridge's   movements.     His  I 
^success  re-established  our  position.     In  the  meantime,  the  enemy  ; 
at  the  bridge  had  been  hammering  Capers  and  his  command  in 
a  lively  manner,  but  without  making  any  impression.     Night 
closed  active  operations,  but  only  to  excite  our  men  to  sleepless 
\igilance,  lest,  under  the  shelter  of  darkness,  the  enemy  might, 
Avitli  his  larger  numbers,  sei;^e  an  advantage. 

Thursday  the  24th  opened  bright  and  cold,  and  with  daylight 
recommenced  the  attempt  on  the  bridge.  At  Balls  Ferry  the 
enemy 'had  fallen  back  to  his  main  body.  Talbot  crossed  with 
some  of  his  cavalry  and  gathered  forty-three  rifled  carbines,  and 
a  (piautity  of  clothing,  knapsacks  and  other  articles  apparently 
abandoned  in  a  hurry.  Prisoners  and  scouts  reported  the  enemy 
in  three  columns,  about  sixty  thousand  strong,  moving  in  our 
iront,  and  on  our  right  and  left.  At  1:30  P.  M.  the  enemy  opened 
At  the  bridge  with  light,  long  range  of  artillery,  but  after  throw- 
ing a  few  shells  withdrew  it.  Enemy  reported  building  a  raft  in 
the  woods  below  Capt.  Warthen  with  flfty -three  men,  Washing- 
ton Militia,  some  mounted  and  some  on  foot,  reported  for  duty. 
At  5  P.  M.  enemy  reappeared  in  small  numbers,  a  reconnoiter- 
ing  party  at  Balls'  Ferry,  and  after  delivering  a  few  shots  re- 
tired. Bridge  hard  pressed  all  day — small  parties  of  cavalry 
marauding  on  the  other  side  of  the  Buffalo,  and  occasionally 
feeling  the  crossings.  At  8:15  P.  M.,  the  enemy  under  cover  of 
night,  and  of  heavy  vollies  of  small  arms,  succeeding  in  forcing 
a  tiring  party  up  to  the  far  end  of  the  trestle  on  their  side,  almost 
without  range  of  our  best  rifles,  and  fired  it.  Colonel  Gaines, 
with  five  hundred  men  joined  me  at  midnight  by  direction  off 
CJIeneral  Wheeler,  who  had  crossed  in  the  morning  at  Black- 
shear's  Ferry,  and  at  Dubliii.    Friday  3r)th,  at  I  A.  M.,  General 


19 

Ilardce  arrived  with  a  portion  of  his  stafl'.  At  daybreak,  tlie 
enemy  opened  heavily  at  the  Ferry  on  Talbot,  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery  and  small  arms.  Trestle  work  burninf!;  slowly  to- 
wards the  bridge,  enemy  covering  its  progress.  At  0  A.  ]\I., 
General  Hardee  returned  to  No.  13,  Enemy  reported  moving 
in  large  force  on  SanJersville  and  No.  V).  At  11  A.  M.,  Lien- 
tenant  Colonel  Young,  3<)th  Georgia,  sent  to  the  Ferry  witli  a 
portion  of  Gaine's  command  to  reinforce  Talbot,  who  was  hai-d 
pressed,  but  well  covered  and  conlident.  The  -Ith  Iventucky 
detachment  patrolling  the  roads  to  our  right.  During  the  after- 
noon tlie  lire  having  approached  the  bridge,  the  enemy  withdrew 
from  our  i'ront,  moving  to  our  left.  In  the  evening,  Major 
Capers  assuring  liimseJf  that  the  enemy  had  entirely  left  (»iir 
front,  extinguished  the  tlames  which  had  reached  the  bridge, 
but  only  charred  a  few  feet  of  it.  The  attempt  to  destroy  tlu- 
bridge  by  a  direct  attack  in  front  had  failed.  At  9:15  V.  ]M., 
Colonel  Young  commanding  at  Balls' Ferry,  reported  that  tlie 
enemy  were  preparing  to  cross  above  and  below  him,  that  his 
men  and  ammunition  were  nearly  exhausted,  and  if  held  in  hi.- 
})Osition  until  daylight,  his  command  would  be  sacrificed.  ( )n 
telegraphing  this  report  to  General  Hardee,  at  No.  1:!,  for  wliifli 
]>oint  the  enemy  were  also  making,  I  receiNcd  ordiMv  tt>  with 
draw  all  my  forces,  and  fall  back  on  No.  1."». 

Saturday,  26tli,  5  minutes  past  1  A.  j\[.,  the  lbrc(;s  were  w  it!i- 
drawn,  bringing  off  everything,  and  at  5:30  A.  M..  icacbcd  \,j. 
13.  Here  liuger's  Artillery  was  turned  ovc'r  to  (u'lUMai 
Wheeler,  who  was  impeding  the  enemy's  march  from  Saining 
\ille.  At  9  A.  ]\r.,  left  for  the  Ogeechee  bri*lge,  No.  !<>,  MJiirh  1 
had  been  ordered  by  General  Hardee  to  occnj)y.  Arrivt'd  at  i 
L\  M.  at  the  Ogeechee.  .   *,  • 

'.Sunday  27th — Enemy  cut  the  Waynesboro  Kaihvad  at 
Waynesboro  in  the  morning.  Ordered  to  fall  back  to  Milh-ii 
and  fortify.  Cavalry  left  in  the  front  by  order  of  (iemTal 
llardee,  to  watch  the  lu-idges.  Arrived  at  ^^illen  3:3n  1^.  M., 
with  the  infantry  and  I'ruden's  Ihittery,  in  all  423  strong.  I'\>i 
tified  around  the  Uailroad  Dejmt. 

JSEonday  2sth — x\t  2  A.  M.,  received  information  from  (ien- 
oral  Wheeler  that  ivilpatrick  with  his  (•(.•mmand  of  b(^t\vcon 
4,000  und  5,(1011  men  had  left  Waynesboro  for  ^lillen.  Mv 
scouts  on  that  road  gave  us  no  notice  of  the  enemy.  At  S:l.> 
.A.  M.,  Major  J31ack,  Inspector  General  to  (leneral  Hardee,  ar- 
rived from  u})  the  road  with  the  same  information.  As  Kil 
patriclc,  was  on  good  autlTority,  reported  "to  have  left  Waynes- 
boro for  ^fillen,  and  as  my  scouVs  "Cn  the  direct  road  between 
the  two  places  give  me  no  hint  of  his  approach,  I  concluded  that 
his  march  was  to  cut  me  oti'  at  No.  5  bel^w,  and  that  the  safety 
of  my  comtiiand  required  me  to  fall  back  to  or  near  that  point, 
i  Mafor  r>l,ack  concurring,  theconnuand  was  moved  back  to  No.  4^ 
boliindtlie  little  Ogeechee  Bridge,  arriving  tltere  at  .'1:30  P.  M. 


20 

Thursday  29th — Occupied  in  preparing  defences.  Sent  Major 
TIartridge  with  his  company,  of  the  2Tth  Battalion,  to  Savannah, 
as  ordered  by  General  Hardee,  Rumors  vague  as  to  the  move- 
ments and  force  of  the  enemy  above.  Command  reduced  to  the 
Cadets  and  Milledgeville  Battalion  of  Infantry,  Prudeus'  Bat- 
tery, and  the  Washington  County  Militia,  in  all  350' men. — 
Emanuel  Militia,  mounted,  numbering  about  thirty  men.  re- 
ported for  duty  under  Captain  Clifton. 

Wednesday  November  30 — Sent  Major  Capers,  with  an  en- 
gine up  the  road  for  information  ;  communicated  with  General 
Wheeler. 

Thursday,  December  1 — Moved  with  the  command  up  the 
road  to  No.  G,  as  a  corps  of  observation.  Leaving  the  command 
tliere,  proceeded  on  the  engine  with  some  of  my  statF  to  ISTo.  7. 
Enemy  reported  in  force  at  No.  8,  and  crossing  to  west  bank  of 
the  -Oconee.  Can  learn  nothing  positively  of  the  force  on  the 
right. 

Friday,  December  2 — Captains  Bridwell  and  Darling,  Quar- 
termaster and  Commissary,  C.  S.  P.  A.,  who  had  volunteered 
their  services  at  Gordon,  returned  to  their  station  at  Milledge- 
ville, the  enemy  having  left  that  place.  Ascertained  positively 
that  the  enemy,  said  to  be  the  17th  corps,  are  moving  down  the 
road;  and  that  another  column,  reported  to  be  the  15th  corps, 
are  three  miles  below  me  on  the  other  side  of  Ihe  Oconee.  A 
courier  from  General  Wheeler  reports  a  heavy  cavalry  force 
moving  down  on  my  right  from  Waynesboro'.  Fell  back  again 
to  No.  4:1,  arriving  there  at  -1  P.  M. 

Saturday,  December  3 — Daybreak  joined  by  the  State  Line 
and  1st  Brigade  Georgia  militia,  of  General  Smith's  Division, 
from   Savaiyiah,  under  direction  of  Colonel   Ilobert   Toombs, 
Inspector.  General  1st  Division,  lOf  A.  M.     Learned  that  the 
15th  corps,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Ogeechee,  was  moving  for 
No.  2,  as  I  had  supposed.     As  this  march,  if  not  anticipated, 
would  cut  my  rear,  determined  on  consultation  with  Colonel 
Toombs,  to  ftxU  back  to  that  point,  our  only  dependence  being 
upon  the  railroad,  having  no  v/agons  nor  other  means  of  trans- 
IDortation  and  no  cavalry  to  cover  our  movements.     Three  col- , 
umns  of  the  enemy  being  also  in  our  front  on  the  railroad  and  on  \ 
our  rignt.     At  11  A.  M.,  joined  by  General  Baker,  C.  S.  P.  A., 
with  Ills  Brigade  of  North  Carolinians.     Explaining  to  him  the 
position  of  the  enemy,  he  agreed  with  me  that  No.  2  was   our 
post,  and  the  command   was  accordingly   moved  down  to   that 
station.     On  arriving  at  No.  2,  I  was  met  by  Major   Black,  of! 
General    Hardee's  staff,  with  instructions  to  return  to  No.  4-J, 
and  that  further  reinforcements  would  be  sent  to   me.     Obeyed 
the  instructions,  though  in  opposition  to  my  own  judgment  and  ^ 
of  my  officers,  and  reoccupied  No.  1^  about  7  P.  M. 

Sunday,  December  1 — Reinforced  early  in  the  morning  by 
Anderson's  and  Phil  lips'  Brigades,  Georgia  militia,  of  Genera]  i 


21 

Smith's  Division.  Formed  line  of  battle  behind  the  little 
Ogeechee,  throwing  back  the  right  to  protect  that  flank,  as  the 
river  was  fordable  above  ns,  with  open  pine  barren  to  the  Savan- 
nah river,  enabling  a  superior  force  to  envelop  ns  easily.  Our 
force  consifited  of  about  4000  men  and  three  pieces,  of  Pruden's 
battery.  No  cavalry.  Assigning  General  Baker  as  executive 
officer  in  command  of  the  line,  and  Major  Capers  as  Chief  of  tlie 
Staff,  waited  for  events.  At  1:35  ]•.  su,  the  advance  of  the  17th 
corps  appeared  on  our  left  in  front  of  the  cadets,  one  of  Avhom — 
Coleman,  a  vidette — brought  down  the  officer  of  the  party,  who 
de'manded  his  surrender.  Skirmishing  began  on  our  leftand  in 
front  of  the  bridge  oti  the  railroad.  At  -i  p.  >[.,  General 
McLaws  arrived  from  Savannah  with  orders  from  General  Har- 
dee to  assume  the  command.  At  5^  ?.  x..  General  McLaws 
having  learned  the  position,  directed  me  to  withdraw  tlie  troops 
quietly  during  the  night  and  fall  back  to  1^.  At  7  p.  ^r.,  euemy 
ceased  skirmishing  and  began  entrenching  in  our  front. 

Monday,  Dec.  5,  2  A.  M. — Troops  withdrawn,  and  in  march 
for  1-^  Central  Railroad.  Arrived  at  1^,  and  while  examinin"- 
for  a  line,  received  orders  to  fall  back  still  farther  and  take  up  a 
position  within  three  and  a  half  miles  of  the  city  of  Savannali. 

Tuesday,  Dec.  ('> — Arrived  at  the  lines,  within  tlircc  and  a  half 
miles  of  Savannah,  atJ2  A.M.  At  10  A.M..  examined  the  line  to 
be  occupied  by  the  State  Troops.  It  extended  from  the  Central 
Railroad  to  the  Savannah  river.  Batteries  were  erected  at  the 
Central  Railroad,  at  the  Augusta  Road'  and  at  Williamson's 
plantations  on  the  river,  but  no  lines  for  infantry,  nearly  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile,  had  been  tlirown  up. 

Wednesday,  Dec.  7 — Gen.  Smith  rctui-ned  to  duty,  havini:; 
been  temporarily  nnwelK  and  turning  over  to  him  his  own  Divi- 
sion and  Major  Capers'  l>attalion,  I  reported  to  General  llardcc 
for  any  assistance  I  could  render  him.  "    '  ', 

Remaining  in  Savannah  until  AEonday,  the  IDtli  of  Dei^ember, 
when  General  JTardee  informed  me  he  had  ordc.rs  to  evacuate 
tlie  city,  I  left  with  my  Staff  in  the  evening,  and  ridino"  up  on 
Xhe  South  Carolina  side,  reached  this  place  again  cai  'rucsday, 
the  27th  December,  and  resumed  my  office  duties  as  Adjutant 
and  Inspector  General  of  the  State. 

In  concluding  tliis  report,  I  take  the  opportunity  6f  bri'iifiu"- 
to  the  notice  of  your  Excellency,  a7ul  of  officially  cxpressin^r  niv 
thanks  to  Majors  Ifartridge  and  Capers,  and  to  the  officers  «')f  ' 
my  Stafl'  improvised  for  the  occasion,  viz:  ^Fajor  John  O.  Vo.y- 
rell.  Assistant  Adjutant  General ;  ]Vressrs.  S.  P.'jAIyrick.  of  Hald- 
win;  Chas.  J.  Harris,  of  IJibb;  Picnjamin  Myrick"  of  iJaldwin, 
Hon.  Francis  P.  Gue,  of  Chatham,  (nicinber  of  the  Legislature;) 
R.  L.  Hunter,  of  Baldwin,  and  Captains  Bridewell  and  Darlinif, 
C.  S.  P.  A.,  for  tlieir  valuable  counsel,  confidence  and  active  aV- 
Bistance  at  all  times  and  under  any  circumstances 

My  thanks  arc  also  due  to  the  gallant  officers  and  mci:  whom 
I  had  the  honor  to  command,  anil  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for 


fiupport.  i  would  coiispicuoiitily  mention  Majors  liartridge  and 
Capers,  and  Captains  Talbot,  Pruden,  Austen  and  "Warthen. 
The  gallantry  uf  these  gentlemen  cannot  be  surpassed.  To 
Major  Capers  I  am  under  the  greatest  obligations.  His  qualifi- 
cations fur  military  command  are  of  the  highest  order,  and  en- 
title him  to  a  prominent  position.  They  have  been  brilliantly 
illustrated  by  the  Corps  of  Cadets,  whose  gallantry,  discipline 
and  skill  equal  anything  I  have  seen  in  any  .military  service.  I 
cannot  speak  too  liighly  of  these  youths,  who  go  into  a  light  as 
cheerl'nlly  as  they  would  enter  a  ball-room,  and  with  the  silence 
and  steadiuess  of  veterans.  The  Washington  county  and  Eman- 
uel  county  militia  (foi'ty  days"  men)  deserve  commendation,  con- 
sisting as  they  did  of  gentJcmen  advanced  in  life,  to  whom  the 
hardships  of  camp  must  have  been  severe,  whose  homes  were 
being  overrun  by  the  enem3\  and  yet  who,  froni  the  purest  in-  , 
centives  of  patriotism  and  of  duty,  offered  their  lives  in  defence,,, 
uf  their  State.  My  thanks  arc  also  due  to  ])rs.  S.  D.  Brantley 
and  James  II.  SmitJi,  of  ^\"ashington  county,  who  volunteered 
tli.eir  surgical  skill  and  instruments  during  our  contest  on  the 
banks  of  the  Oconee. 

Tlic  itobcrts'  (iuards  (convicts)  generally  behaved  well. 
''Vheir  Ca]>tain,  Huberts,  is  a  brave  and  daring  man.  Enclosed 
i>  a  list  of  thobC  of  the  Company,  who,  sharing  the  fortunes  of 
our  troops,  luive  returned  to  this  place  and  been  furloughed  for 
tliirly  days.  I  recummend  them  for  the  full  pardon  condition- 
ally promii'jed, 

AVith  deep  gratitude  to  a  kind  I'rovidence,  it  is  my  pleasure 
t<i  report  that  my  losses  were  small.  But  5  killed  and  5  Vi^ounded. 
( )uc  ol'  tlie  wounded.  Cadet  Marsh,  lias  since  died,  as  also  Mr. 
[Stephen  Manigault,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  of  Ileyward's  Cavalry, 
who  recei\  ed  his  death  M-ound  under  liartridge,  at  Ball's  Ferry, 
un  tlie  evening  of  the  2dd'  of  Kovember.  Advanced  in  years, 
|)0sse8scd  of  wealth,  and  of  high  social  position,  all  of  which 
jnight  have  screened  him  from  military  service,  he  nevertheless 
did  not  hesitate  to  uphold,  as  a  private  in  the  ranks,  the  politi- 
cal opinions  he  maintained.  He  fell  gallantly  fighting  for 
them.  His  friends  have  already  embalmed  his  memory,  but  it 
uuiy  be  permitted  to  his  accidental  commander,  personally  a 
stranger  to  him,  but  who  had  learned  his  worth,  to  add  a  leaf  to 
the  chaplet  of  laurels  that  crowns  his  tomb,  and  to  hold  up  his 
tfonduct  as  an  example  for  imitation. 

What  injury  was  inflicted  upon  the  enemy  we  could  not  learn. 
Prisoners  taken  reported  their  loss  at  45  on  the  lirst  day,  23d 
November.  Three  bodies  unburied  were  found  at  the  Ferry  on 
the  '24:th,  and  I  have  learned  since  my  return  that  a  number  of 
graves  opposite  the  Ferry  mark  in  part  the  stubborness  of  Tal- 
bot's resistance.  Very  respectfully, 

Your  ob't  serv't, 

HENKY  C.  WAYNE, 
Major  General. 


Ud  uf  iiivn^  Mevihetti  of  iJaytain  Iiobofh'  Coin^jauij  ivho  Jiavo 
been  furloughed  for  thirty  (oO)  days^  front  the  24/A  of  Janu- 
ary. At  the  exjnration  of  which,  time  they  arc  to  report  to 
the  Adjutant  and  Impector  General  with  certificates.,  shoujiny 
that  they  have  hcen  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  Confed- 
ercde  States  : 


A.  M.   reaficltl. 
Tliornas  Tugojlo, 
W.  I.  KiuTipliries. 
.loliu  W.  Lester. 
.1.  T.  Golden, 
IV.  M.  Brown, 
J.    K.  L.  ytornlaii'l, 
\V.   Bustle. 
John  R.  West. 
Lcander  Watts. 
W.  G.  Bowman. 
Anderson  Hudgiiis, 
Joseph    Htilsey, 
W.  R^beri)-, 
Wilson  Gallaway. 
James  Wilson. 
.1).  G.  HoIIis. 
Z.  Rainwater. 
1'.  Williams, 
Henry  J.  J  one-. 


James  .loiut-, 
Uobert  Jarksoir. 
A.  J.  Abel.s 
John  Henderson. 
J.  M.   Reed, 
ivobert   Beavms. 
^L  V.  Colton. 
Jeremiah   ]M()se>. 
W.  Giilispio. 
Ivxna  Fowlkes. 
'i'homus  Roomy, 
S.  T.  8cllars. 
i>everly    Watkins. 
W  Woods, 
l^.  A.  Robert:^, 
John  Agan, 
W.  H.  Turner. 
J".  ('.  Craven, 
W.  Smith, 
J.  Donaldson. 


HEIS-KY  C.  AVAYj^E, 
Adjutant  and  Inspector  General 


'lA:>L:AJCi    llJT]!,    J.bti:>. 
JIe7Jio7rinda. 

1st.  There  is  no  ])Ctter  established  fact  in  military  liistory 
than  tliis :  "  "When  a  Sovereign  ^tate  determines  to  keep  in  ser- 
vice a  rcguhar  army  she  must  pay  the  expenses.''  2Ioney  is  just 
as  necessary  to  jMilitia  vrhilst  in  service  as  it  is  to  regulars.  TJic 
Legislature  of  this  State  should  make  an  appropriation  at  once 
for  the  su])port  of  tlic  Militia.  If  this  is  not  promptly  done  the 
organization  should  be  given  up. 

lid.  All  the  Militia,  or  State  forces,  sliould  be  regularly  .sNrorji 
and  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  State. 

;5d.  At  least  one  permanent  Court  Martial  should  be  estab- 
lished l)y  haw  for  the  trial  oi']\Iilitia  -who  are  charged  Avitli  hav- 
ing cominitted  offences  against  cither  the  military  or  civil  laws 
of  the  State. 

4th.  No  officer  should  be  commissioned  even  after  beiut,'  elec- 
ted until  he  had  first  ])asscd  an  examination  before  a  iJuard  oi" 
competent  olli'-crs,  and  received  from  such  I'-oard  u  certiiicate 
staging  that  he  was  qualilicd  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  oiiu:v. 

AH  officers  now  in  service  should  be  subject  to  examinatioti 
before  such  Board,  ou  the  rccommcndatiou  of  the  commander  iu 


24 


4 


the  field,  and  when  found  incompetent  should  be  reduced  to  the 
ranks ;  a  good  court  martial  and  good  examining  board  both 
made  permanent,  their  duties  defined  and  habitually  holding 
their  meetings  in  the  camp  would  be  of  great  service. 

.     (Signed)  G.  W.  S. 

To  Maj.  Gen.  11.  C.  AVayne, 

A,  A:  I.    Gen'l.  Milledgeville,  Georgia. 


HAMBURG  HILLS,  S.  C, ) 

February  "12,  1865.  ^ 
General — 1  iiavc  the  bonor  herewith  to  transmit  my  report 
to  General  J.  B,  Hood,  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Georgia  Militia 
ill  the  operations  at  and  near  Atlanta,  with  tlie  rcouest  that  you 
show  it  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  and  then  have  it  placed 
oi\  file  in  your  office.  I.  desire  this  in  connection  with  the  report 
made  to  Lieutenant  General  Hardee,  at  Savannah,  on  the  6th  of 
T)eceuit)er,  1864,  which  has  already  been  sent  you,  to  form  the 
official  i-ecord  of  their  action  during  the  time  embraced  in  the 
two  reports. 

\'ery  truly,  yours, 
(Signed,)  '        '       G!  AV.  SMITH,  Major  General. 

Ma.ioj:  General  H.  C.  Wayjse, 

A.  and  I.  G.,  State  of  Georgia. 

Otiicial: 

Jno.  O.  Ffkrill,  a.  a.  G. 


HEADQUAETEPvS  FIRST  DIY.  G.  M.,  ] 
Macox,  Ga.,  September  15,  1864.      ) 
General  J.  B.  Hood, 

Commanding  Army  of  Tennessee, 

Xear  Lovejoy's  Station : 
(Jejieral — I  have   the   honor  to  make  the  following  report  of 
the  part  taken  by  the  Georgia  Militia  under  my  command  dur- 
ing the  operations  at  and  near  Atlanta. 

My  appointment  was  dated  the  1st  of  June.  1  took  com- 
mand a  few  days  thereafter,  relieving  Major  General  Wayne, 
who  returned'  to  the  duties  of  his  ofiice  as  Adjutant  and  Inspector 
General  of  the  State.  Tlie  force  tlien  in  the  field  was  composed 
entirely  of  State  officers,  civil  and  military.  They  had  been 
formed  into  two  Brigades,  of  three  Regiments  each,  and  one  Bat- 
talion of  Artillery,  numbering  in  all  a  little  over  3,000 
men.  The  officers  of  the  militia  not  needed  for  these  Regiments 
took  their  places  in  the  ranks  as  privates  with  the  civil  officers. 
The  command  had  reported  to  General  J.  E.  Johnston  for  duty 


'25, 

and  had  been  ordered  to  guard  the  crossings  of  the  Chattahoo- 
chee river  from  Eoswell  Bridge  to  West  Point,  which  duty 
they  continued  to  perform  until  ordered  by  General  Johnston 
to  cross  the  Chattahoochee  and  support  the  cavalry  upon  the 
left  wing  of  his  army,  the  right  wing  then  being  at  Kennesaw 
Mountain.  In  the  execution  of  this  order  the  militia  were  twice 
brought  into  conflict  with  the  enemy's  infantry.  They  behaved 
well,  thoroughly  executed  the  part  assigned  them.  And  when 
the  army  fell  back  to  the  Chattahoochee  they  were  the  last  in- 
fantry withdrawn  to  the  fortilied  position. 

General  Johnston,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Brown,  paid  a  hand- 
some, and  I  think,  well  deserved  compliment  to  them  for  their 
conduct  beyond  the  river  and  their  services  ii\  beating  back  the 
enemy  in  their  attempts  upon  the  various  crossings.  The  da}'^ 
we  readied  the  Chattahoochee,  we  were  assigned  to  your  corps 
of  the  array.  You  soon  placed  us  in  reserve,  which  it  was 
thought  would  give  some  opportunity  for  drilling  and  discipling 
the  command,  no  opportunity  for  this  having  previously  oc- 
curred. In  the  meantime  the  Reserve  Militia  of  Georgia  were 
ordered  out  by  Governor  Brown,  and  I  was  ordered  to  Poplar 
Spring,  near  the  Atlanta  and  West  Point  llailroad,  for  the  pur" 
pose  of  reorganizing,  arming  the  reserves,  etc.  We  had  not  been 
there  three  days  before  you  found  it  necessary  to  order  us  into 
the  trenches  on  the  east  side  of  Atlanta.  You  had  m  the  mean- 
while been  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  army,  and  instructed 
mc  to  report  to  you  direct,  instead  of  through  a  corps  com- 
mander. There  were  at  this  time  about  2000  elfective  muskets 
in  the  command.  We  guarded  over  two  miles  of  the  lines,  hav- 
ing on  them,  however,  some  eighty  pieces  of  Confederate  artil- 
lery. On  the  22d  of  July,  whilst  Hardee  was  attacking 
the  enemy  on  our  extreme  right,  in  the  direction  of  Decatur, 
you  ordered  the  troops  on  my  left  to  advance.  Without  waiting 
for  orders,  I  closed  the  intervals  in  my  line,  formed  line  of  battle 
in  tlie  trenches,  and  moved  the  militia  forward  over  the  parparet 
more  than  a  mile  against  the  enemy's  strong  works  in  our  front. 
They  were  directed  upon  a  battery  wliich  had  annoyed  us  very 
much.  Capt.  Anderson,  who  had  served  with  my  command  be- 
yond the  Chattahochee,  volunteered  to  move  his  batteiy  with 
us.  He  took  his  position  in  clear  open  ground,  within  about  400 
yards  of  th-e  embrasure  battery  of  the  enemy,  supported  by  the 
militia  on  his  right  and  left.  Within  ten  minutes,  the  effective 
fire  of  the  enemy  was  silenced  in  our  front,  and  after  this  they 
only  occasionally  ventured  to  show  themselves  at  the  embrasure 
or  put  their  heads  above  the  parapet.  My  troops  were  eager  to 
be  allowed  to  charge  the  battery,  but  the  brigade  upon  my  left 
had  given  way,  and  the  falling  back  was  extending  still  further  to 
the  left.  Hardee's  hre  upon  mj^  right  had  ceased  just  after  wc 
moved  out  of  the  trenches.  I  considered  it  useless  to  make  an 
isolated  attack,  and  therefore  held  the  position  awaiting  further 


2.(; 

developnieuts.  In  about  t^vo  liours  1  ^ccei^'ed  orders  from  you, 
directing  me  to  Avitlidraw  to  the  trenches.  "We  lost  only  about 
fifty  men  killed  and  "wounded.  The  officers  and  men  behaved 
admirabl}^  Every  movement  vas  promptl}^  and  accurately 
made.  There  -was  not  a  single  straggler.  A  few  days  after  this 
affair  of  the  22d  of  July,  I  Avas^rdered  again  to  Poplar  Spring, 
but  "was  scarcely  established  in  camp  there  before  we  had  again  to 
b/8  placed  in  the  trenches  on  the  left  of  the  Marietta  road,  and 
from  this  tisje  until  the  end  of  the  siege,  continued  under  close 
lire  night  and  day.  We  had  to  move  from  one  portion  of  the 
lines  to  another,  and  had  our  full  share  of  all  the  hardest  places, 
extending  from  the  left  of  the  Marietta  road  across  the  Peachtrec 
road  to  our  extreme  right. 

The   militia,  although   but   poorly   armed,  very  few  having 
proper  equipments,  more  than  two-thirds  ©f  them  without  car- 
tridge  boxes,  almost  without  ambulances   or  other  transporta- 
tion, most  of  the  reserve  men  never  having   been  drilled  at  all, 
and  the  others  but  a  few  days,  all  performed  well   every  service 
recjuired,  during    an  arduous   and  dangerous  camjDaign.     They 
have  been  in  service  about  one  hundred  days,  during  at  least  fifty 
of  which  they  have  been  under  close  fire  of  the   enemy   mostly 
night  and  day  ;  they  have  always  shown  a  willing  spirit,  whether 
in   camp,  on  the   march,   working   at   fortifications,   guarding 
trenches,  or  iipon  the  open  battle-field ;  they  have  done  good  ancl 
substantial  service  in  the  cause  of  their  country,  and  have  estab- 
lished the  fAct  that  Georgia  is  willing  and  able  to  do  somethine: 
efl:ective  in  her  own  name,  beyond  iurnishmgmore  than  her  quota 
to  the  Confederate  Armies  proper.     The  geatest  number  of  efiec- 
tive  muskets  in  the  trenches  at  any  one  time  was  about  6000, — 
When  Atlanta  was  evacuated  the  Eeserve  Artillery  of  the  army 
passed  out  through  my  lines,  and  my  men  were  formed  .as  a  rear 
guard.     The  whole  was  safely  brought  to  Griflin  under  your  or- 
ders.    The  march  from  Atlanta  to  Griffin  satified  me  that  men 
over  fifty   are  not  as   a  class  fitted   for  military  duty.     I  have 
therefore  strongly  advised  the  Governor  to  withdraw  them  from 
continuous  active  service; 

There  being  a  lull  in  active  operations  the  Governor  has  with 
my  recommendation  and  your  concurrence,  temporarily  with- 
drawn the  militia  from  Confederate  service  and  furloughed  them 
'for  thirty  days.  This  report  is  hastily  written,  without  access 
to  the  detailed  records  and  papers  of  my  Adjutant  General's  Of- 
fice, but  all  omissions  can  be  readily  supplied  by  the  returns 
already  forwarded  to  your  oflice. 

Before  closing  I  cannot  refrain  allluding  to  a  subject  which 
under  ordinary  circumstances  forms  no  part  of  reports  of  subor- 
dinates to  their  commanders?  I  allude  to  the  outcry  from  the 
press  and  the  people  against  yourself  because  of  the  evacuation 
of  Atlanta. 
Unsolicited  b;)J  mc,  without  my  consent  or  knowledge  the  civil 


•i7 

iind  military  oiiicert^  of  tlie  State  of  Crcorgia,  wLeii  (.-ailed  upon 
to  take  up  arms  in  defense  of  tlicir  homes,  almost  miauimouslj 
elected  me  their  leader,  and  as  their  leader,  I  -wish  iu  this  report 
to  say  to  you  and  place  officiall}'-  on  record  this  opinion,  viz ; 
Had  your  orders  been  properly  executed  either  upon  the  20th  of 
July  at  Peachtrcc  Creek,  the  22d  of  July  on  our  right,  or  on  the 
;!(U:h  of  xiugust  at  Joncsboro,  Sherman  would  have  been  foiled 
and  Atlanta  saved,  at  least  Jbr  some  time  to  come ;  and  I  am  not 
alone  in  this^  opinion. 

Commanding  a  peculiar  organi;;ation,  the  ranking  officers  in 
tlie  force,  of  the  State  within  which  you  were  operating,  I  was 
invited  to,  and  i)articipated  in,  your  councils.  I  had  cveiy 
opportunity  of  knovv'ing  what  was  going  on.  Your  plans  were 
fully  explained  to  your  Lieutenant  Generals,  your  Chief  of  Ar- 
tillery, Chief  Engineer  and  myself.  Opinions  and  views  were 
called  for,  and  l.hcn  speciiic  orders  were  given.  I  have  never 
known  one  of  them  to  express  dissent  to  any  plan  of  yours  that 
was  attempted  to  be  executed,;  never  a  doubt  expressed  as  to  the 
meaning  and  intent  of  your  orders,  nor  a  suggestion  made  by 
them  of  u  plan  they  supposed  M'ould  be  better  than  that  you 
ordered.  If  they  are  not  now  unanimous,  there  is  but  one,  if 
;iny,  who  dissents  from  the  opinion  expressed  above,  namely : 
Sherman  would  have  been  beaten  had  your  orders  been  obeyed 
on  the  20th  of  July,  22d  of  July,  or  30th  of  August.  What- 
ever the  press  or  people  may  say,  the  militia  of  Georgia  are  more 
than  satislied  with  you  as  their  {Confederate  General,  and  when 
they  again  enter  tliat  service,  in  defence  of  tlieir  homes,  will  be 
glad  to  hail  you  as  their  Confederate  Chief. 

(Signed)  G.  ^Y.  SMITH, 

Major  Gcn(ii-al. 

Official : 

John  P.  FiajEiLL,  A.  A.  G. 


HEADQUAETEKS,  1st  DIY.  G.  M.  ) 
December  31st  18Gi.       - 
Caimi',  near  AuorsTA,  Georgia.    "  j 
Lieut.  Genl.  W.  J.  IIahdee, 

Commanding  Department,  ifcc,  Charleston,  S.  C. 
General:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  tlie   following  report  of 
the  operations  of  my  comnumd  during  the  recent  siege  of  Sa- 
vannah. 

In  compliance  with  your  order  of  December  7th,  my  division 
was  placed  upon  the  right  of  the  line,  which  at  this  point  was 
about  three  miles  from  the  city,  and  extended  from  the  Savan- 
Tiah  river  to  the  Central  Lailroad.  One  brigade  having  been 
previously  detached  by  your  order  was  stationed  on  the  Alta- 
niaha  river,  guarding  tUe  Savaiina,li  and  Gulf  Kuilroad   bridge. 


28 

The  enemy  were  at  that  time,  within  a  short  distance  and 
steadily  approaching  by  the  Augusta  and  Louisville  roads,  on 
both  of  which  slight  batteries  had  already  been  constructed,  and 
four  heavy  guns  placed  in  position.  Near  the  river  on  our  right 
flank,  were  two  small  batteries,  one  thirty-two  pounder  being 
mounted  on  each.  There  were  some  rifle  pits  prepared  for 
skirmishers  on  a  portion  of  the  line ;  otherwise  the  position 
was  not  fortfled,  but  there  was  a  swamp  in  front  of  us  between 
the  Louisville  and  Augusta  roads,  and  rice  fields  from  the  latter  to 
the  river  bank,  which  gave  considerable  natural  strength  to  the 
position.  Notwithstanding  the  deficiency  of  entrenching  tools,  a 
good  deal  of  work  was  done  upon  the  lines  in  the  course  of  tw^o 
days,  so  that  when  the  enemy  appeared  in  force  upon  our  front  on 
the  9th,  we  were  prepared  to  make  a  very  effective  resistance  to 
any  direct  attack  the  enemy  might  make.  A  strong  detached  work 
was  constructed  beyond  the  rice  fields  near  the  river  bank  which 
enfiladed  the  whole  of  our  front  and  added  very  materially  to 
the  strength  of  the  position.  My  line  was  two  and  a  half  miles 
in  length.  "We  had  on  it  about  two  thousand  men,  afterwards  a 
good  deal  reduced  by  detachments.  The  two  regiments  of  the 
State  Line  were  placed  near  the  Louisville  road.  The  first  bri- 
gade of  Militia  held  the  Augusta  road,  and  the  immediate  line 
was  occupied  by  the  battalion  of  Cadets.  The  whole  under 
command  of  Brigadier  General  Carswell.  The  second  and  third 
brigades  held  the  line  from  the  Augusta  road  to  the  river  bank. 

Colonel  Hill  with  a  detachment  from  the  third  brigade,  a  de- 
tachment of  Cadets,  and  Pruden's  Militia  Battery,  occupying 
the  advanced  work  beyond  the  rice  fields.  The  whole  of  mj 
right  was  under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  Anderson.  Later 
a  portion  x^f  Anderson's  Battery,  eight  pieces  of  Major  Hamil- 
ton's Artillery  and  some  additional  heavy  guns  were  placed  in 
position.  The  enemy  pressed  close  upon  our  works,  but  made 
no  direct  or  determined  attempt  to  carry  them.  After  the  fall 
of  Fort  McAlister,  it  was  clearly  only  a  question  of  time  when 
Savannah  would  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  "We  were 
informed  that  no  reinforcements  could  be  expected.  Our  only 
line  of  communication  was  across  the  Savannah  river,  upon  a 
narrow  rice  field  dyke.  Our  supplies  of  provisions  and  ammu- 
nition Avere  very  limited.  I  urged  upon  you  the  necessity  of 
preparing  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  did  every  thing  immy  power  to 
aid  in  its  early  construction. 

The  enemy  after  the  capture  of  Fort  McAlister,  eft'ected  a 
permanent  lodgment  on  Hutchinson's  Island,  crossed  the  Savan- 
nah river,  and  established  works  on  the  South  Carolina  shore, 
almost  in  range  of  our  only  line  of  retreat.  In  my  judgment,  as 
expressed  to  you  at  that  time,  they  were  in  position  to  prevent 
the  escape  of  any  portion  of  the  garrison  for  two  or  three  days 
before  we  gave  up  the  place. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  of  December,  the  evacuation  of  Sa- 


20 

vannali  commenoeJ.  About  two  on  the  morning  of  the  21st, 
the  militia,  which  formed  the  rear  guard,  left  the  city  at  day- 
break, reached  the  Sand  Hills  in  South  Carolina,  opposite  to 
Savannah,  from  which  place  we  marched  to  Barnburg  on  the 
Charleston  and  Augusta  llailroad.  At  the  latter  place  you  de- 
prived us  of  the  transportation  which  we  had  brought  from  in 
front  of  Atlanta,  and  the  connnand  came  by  railroad  to  this 
place,  where  v,'e  are  now  encamped. 

The  oflicers  and  men  behaved  uniformly  well,  and  are  entitled 
to  all  the  credit  and  respect  due  to  soldiers  who  have  performed 
their  full  duty. 

Before  closing  this  report.  I  wish  to  call  especial  attention  to 
three  Confederate  othcei*s  who  have  loug  served  with  the  Militia 
of  Georgia,  and  by  their  gallantry  and  skill  have  materially 
aided  in  our  success.  I  refer  to  Lieut.  Col.  J>.  W.  Frobel,  Chief 
Engineer  ;  Capt.  J.  U  Troup,  Inspector  General ;  and  Capt.  R. 
W,  Anderson,  who,  besides  commanding  his  own  most  excellent 
battery,  acted  at  Savannah  as  Chief  of  Artillery  upon  my  line. 

Much  credit  is  also  due  to  the  staff  officers  of  my  division, 
belonging  to  the  i\rilitia  proper,  for  gallantry,  skill  and  good 
conduct  throughout  the  arduous  campaign  irom  beyond  the 
Chattahoochee  to  Savannah  and  Augusta. 

(Signed)  ^  (r.  W.  SMITH, 

Official  :  Major  General. 

Jno.  Fekktll,  a.  a.  Cf. 


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